IN ZULU MYTHOLOGY, "MAMLAMBO" IS THE AFRICAN MOTHER GODDESS OF RIVERS AND LIVING WATERS WHO CONTROLS ALL RIVERS FLOWING THROUGH NATAL. SHE APPEARS TO THOSE WHO SACRIFICE TO HER. HER NAME MEANS "THE RIVER MOTHER". IN HER EARLIEST AND MOST ANCIENT ASPECTS, SHE WAS A FERTILITY SYMBOL.

SHE IS USUALLY DEPICTED AS A LARGE CROCODILE LIKE CREATURE, BUT HER TRUE FORM IS THAT OF A SNAKE. SHE DROWNS THE UNSUSPECTING BY PULLING THEM DOWN INTO THE WATERS AND ENJOYS THUNDERSTORMS DURING WHICH SHE HAS BEEN KNOWN TO MAKE AN APPEARANCE. THE" MAMLAMBO" HAS SCARED MANY SOUTH AFRICANS TO THE POINT OF NOT TRAVELING NEAR THE WATER. IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT IF SHE IS CAUGHT, SHE WILL GIFT HER CAPTORS WITH GREAT RICHES AND ABUNDANCE IF THEY WILL SET HER FREE.

ZULU WOMEN IN SOME POLYGAMOUS HOUSEHOLDS KEPT ACTUAL RIVER SNAKES AS GOOD LUCK CHARMS, HOPING THE MAN OF THE HOUSE WOULD FAVOR THEM. THE MAMLAMBO HAD AN INSATIABLE SEXUAL APPETITE. SHE COULD BECOME A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN AND SEDUCE ANY MAN, AND ONCE SHE MOVED INTO HIS HOUSEHOLD, IT WAS SAID THAT A MALE RELATIVE--A BROTHER, A FATHER, A SON--WOULD SOON DIE.

IN THE OLDEN DAYS, BEER WAS MAINLY BREWED BY WOMEN. SHE IS THE PATRONESS OF BEER MAKERS.